Automobile spark indicator



J; L. KLAVON'.

AUTOMOBILE SPARK INDICATOR APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1921..

1,42 1 ,495 Patented July 4, 1922.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH L. KLAVON, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMOBILE SPARK INDICATOR.

Application filed March 8, 1921.

Z 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that Josnrrr L. KLAvoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Spark Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to automobile spark indicators and has for its object to provide a device of this character having one or more apertures in which apertures are disposed the ends of conductor members which conductor members are adjustable in relation to each other thereby allowing the variation and adjustment ot' the spark gap, said conductors being in circuit with the ignition system of an internal combustion engine, and the device as a whole disposed on the instrument board of the automobile in such a mannerthat it may be observed at all times by the operator so that. he can ascertain as to whether all of the cylinders are firing. Also to provide spark gaps in the ignition system for intensifying the sparking at the spark each other, said elongated member being formed from insulating material and provided with notches on its upper and lower edges in which notches plates are disposed and through which plates the conductor screws are threaded, said plates being provided with binding posts for the reception of wires. Also to provide a casing for the elongated member, said casing having flanges for engaging the upper and side edges of the elongated member and inturned lugs adja- .notches. plates 9 and 11 are bmding posts 12 and 13,

cent the lower end of the side flanges for engaging under an insulating member supporting the elongated body member and means passing through the casing flanges for holding the elongated body member within the casing.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1922.

sci-1&1 No. 450,644.

the precise embodiment of the invention ma v be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the spark lndicator.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the spark indicator.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the insulating member, showing the electric conductors therein and the insulated member removed from the casing.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure l.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a rectangular shaped casing adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to an instrument board of an automobile body in a position where it may be observed at all times by the operator of an automobile. The casing comprises the front plate 2 and rearwardly extending flanges 3 and l. the flange 3 being horizontally disposed and the flanges 4 being vertically disposed at right anglesto the flange 3. Disposed between the flanges 3 and 4 is an elongated member 5 formed from insulating material which member is provided with a plurality of transversely disposed apertures 6. Vertically disposed and threaded in the body member 5 are conductors 7 and 8, said conductors 7 being also threaded through plates 9 disposed in notches 10 in the upper edge of the member 5, said conductor screws 7 forming means for holding said plates in said notches. The inner ends of the conductor screws 7 are disposed within the apertures 6 and adjacent the inner ends of the conductor screws 8, which conductor .screws 8 are also disposed in notches 10 in the lower edge of the insulating member 5 and pass through plates 11 disposed in said notches 10 and hold said plates in the Extending outwardly from the to which posts conductor wires may be connectcd and the indicator placed in circuit with the ignition system of the engine, which ignition system when in operation, will cause sparks between the adjacent ends of the threaded conductors 7 and 8 which may be observed at all times by the operator and he will know by observing the indicator as to whether the engine is firing on all cylinders,

and if not may easily and quickly locate the trouble. It is to be understood that an number of apertures 6 may be used according to the type of engine being used and the number of cylinders therein. However, it is to be understood that for purposes of illustration a device is shown, applicable to a six cylinder engine.

By providing spark gaps, the device will not only allow the operator to immediately ascertain if the engine is missing fire on a particular cylinder or cylinders, but also intensifies the spark at the spark plug terminals, thereby securing maximum efficiency and quickness of firing of the charge within the cylinders.

Disposed on the upper edge of the elongated member 5 is a strip lt formed from insulating material, which insulating material insulates the plates 9 from the flange 3 and prevents grounding. Disposed in engagement within the front side of the member 5 and the front ends of the plates 9 and 11 is a glass 15, though which glass and an opening 16 in the front of a casing 1, the operator may observe the spark gap between the threaded conductors 7 and 8, said glass also insulating the front ends of the plates 9 and 11 from the casing 1. After the glass has been placed in position the member 5 with its strip let is disposed between the flanges 3 and 4L at which time screws 17 are screwed through the flanges 3 and a and into the strip 14 and insulating member 5- thereby securely holding said member and strip in place. The binding posts 13 and 12 pass through a sheet of insulating material 18, which engages the rear face of the" member 5 and the rear ends of the plates 9 and 11 and protects said parts as well forming a closure for the rear ends ot the apertures 6. The sheet of insulating material 18 is held in position by nuts 19 threaded on the binding posts 12 and 13 The lower ends of the threaded conductors 8- project' below the lower side of the member 5 and are provided with screw driver engaging slots for the reception of a screw driver whereby the threaded conductors 8 may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly for varying the size of the spark gaps between the conductors 7 and 8. The lower sides of the glass 15 and the insulating sheet 18 extend below the lower edge of the elongatedmember 5 and interposed between the lower edges of the glass 15 and insulating sheet 18 and inturned lugs 21 carried by the lower ends of the flanges 4; is an insulating strip 22 which prevents short circuiting of the screw conductors 8 and protects the same. hen it is desired to adjust the screw conductors 8 it will only be necessary to remove the insulating strip 22 and adjust the screw.

From the above it will be seen that a spark indicator is provided for internal combustion engines, which may be applied easily and quickly to the instrument board of an automobile where it can be observed at all times by the operator and one wherein the construction is simple and the parts reduced to a minimum.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is A spark indicating device comprising an elongated member formed from insulating material and provided with a plurality of apertures, axially disposed threaded conductors threaded. in the elongated member and having their adjacent ends disposed in the apertures. the upper and lower edges of said elongated member being provided with. a plurality oi? notched conductor plates disposed in said. notches. the outer ends of the conductor screws being threaded through said conductor plates, means whereby said conductor screws may be adjusted in relation to each other, said conductor plates being provided with rearwardly extending binding screws, an auxiliary casing formed from insulating material surrounding the elongated member, said elongated member and auxiliary casing being disposed within a metallic casing, said metallic casing being provided with a horizontal flange and vertical flanges engaging the upper side of the casing and the ends of the elongated member. the lower ends of said vertical flanges being provided with inturned lugs, the lower side of the insulating casing being removable and dis posed upon said lugs. and means passing through the flanges of the casing and into the elongated member for holding said member against displacement.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH L. KLAVON. 

